Sunset Ranch Trail

Within the 64,000 acre expanse of Three Lakes WMA, the Sunset Ranch Trail at the Prairie Lakes Unit north of Kenansville provides an easy interpretive day hike to sample the habitats found in the preserve en route to an observation deck on Lake Marian. The 2.2-mile loop trail offers excellent birding opportunities, especially for sandhill cranes.

Comments

I gathered our family (2 dads, 3 boys, and one mom) for a “First Day Hike” on Jan. 2. It was a very warm day and the trail is often out in the open scrub area rather than under the trees. We saw a bald eagle (and maybe a juvenile?) perched on a tree at the lake. The trail is well-marked and well-maintained. We didn’t see any critters from the wildlife viewing blind.